Renault Sport F1 Hockenheim preview 16.07.2014: GERMAN GRAND PRIX 2014 at Hockenheimring Hockenheim in numbers :

GERMAN GRAND PRIX 2014 at Hockenheimring

 
 
Hockenheim in numbers :

(with 1 being the easiest, 5 being the most severe)
INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE    4
MGU-K    4
MGU-H    4
BATTERY    4
FUEL CONSUMPTION    3
ENERGY RECOVERY    4



Hockenheim overview:


Rémi Taffin, Renault Sport F1 head of track operations:

Hockenheim will be the fourth power track in a row after Canada, Silverstone and Austria. Approximately 65% of the lap is spent at full throttle thanks to the four long straights, the longest of which is over 1km long. The ICE, turbo and MGU-H will therefore be under enormous pressure, particularly since drivers will reach over 290kph on three occasions (or over 300kph on two occasions) during the first two thirds of the lap.


Unlike Silverstone, however, the straights are linked by medium to low speed corners such as the Hairpin and the old Stadium complex. Energy recovery under braking is therefore relatively easy, which is good news as far as carbon fuel consumption is concerned.


With such large loads going through every part of the Power Unit, everything will get very hot. The expected high ambient temperatures will only compound this challenge. To prevent against any potential overheating issues we’ll run a different cooling configuration and use the PU elements in a slightly different way. For example, we may run a ‘mix and match’ system using components at different stages in their life cycle. This race will also be a good warm up for the very hot temperatures we’ll see in Hungary just a week after.


We’re going to Hockenheim in a good frame of mind. We aim to be on the form we showed in Canada and Silverstone. Our confidence is increased by the new software tested last week in Silverstone and fuel from Total that should bring additional performance per lap.




News from Total

Total has developed a cooling liquid specifically for Renault Sport F1. Since each car will have just five Power Units season, reliability is a priority and it is therefore essential to ensure optimal operation of the cooling system, particularly around the combustion chamber walls and the turbo bearing.


The formulation of this product helps prevent corrosion of the special alloys used in the manufacture of certain parts of the Energy F1-2014. It also reduces cavitation, which can be a very destructive phenomenon.



Renault Energy F1-2014 Fast Facts:


•    The Parabolika straight is over 1km long, putting it on a par with the longer straights of the season in China and Abu Dhabi. The Renault Energy F1-2014 engine will spend over 14 seconds at full throttle, one of the longest single outright times of the year.


•    The latter part of the lap, which includes a slow 60kph hairpin, a right hand flick and then the renowned stadium section, is taken at a much lower average speed than the first part of the lap. The tight, twisty nature of this part of the track demands good braking stability and engine torque response, particularly through the stadium, which is taken at an average of 200kph.


•    The tight corners and long straights used to make Hockenheim one of the the highest per kilometre fuel consumption rates of the year. The energy recovery systems will however dramatically decrease the fuel consumption rate. Each car will use no more than 100kg, whereas in the past around 150kg would have been consumed.


•    Renault engines have powered six drivers to wins on both the long and short configurations of the Hockenheimring. Nigel Mansell took the first in 1991 for Williams, and again in 1992, with Alain Prost making it three in a row for Williams in 1993. Michael Schumacher took a popular win in 1995 for Benetton, with Damon Hill and Gerhard Berger on the top step the next two years. Fernando Alonso won on the new circuit layout in 2005. Unfortunately, the Renault turbo never triumphed at the track in its ten years of service.
 

  
Renault Sport F1 - also photo